The Party were very soon moving after Dinner. Mr. P. could not be satisfied without an early visit to the Library, and the Library Subscription book, and Charlotte was glad to see as much, and as quickly as possible, where all was new. They were out in the very quietest part of a Watering-place Day, when the important Business of Dinner or of sitting after Dinner was going on in almost every inhabited Lodging；-here and there a solitary Elderly Man might be seen, who was forced to move early and walk for health-but in general, it was a thorough pause of Company, it was Emptiness and Tranquillity on the Terrace, the Cliffs, and the Sands.-The Shops were deserted-the Straw Hats and pendant Lace seemed left to their fate both within the House and without, and Mrs. Whitby at the Library was sitting in her inner room, reading one of her own Novels, for want of Employment. The List of Subscribers was but commonplace. The Lady Denham, Miss Brereton, Mr. and Mrs. P.-Sir Edward Denham and Miss Denham, whose names might be said to lead off the Season, were followed by nothing better than-Mrs. Mathews-Miss Mathews, Miss E. Mathews, Miss H. Mathews.- Dr. and Mrs. Brown-Mr. Richard Pratt.-Lieut. Smith R.N. Capt. Little,-Limehouse.-Mrs. Jane Fisher, Miss Fisher, Miss Scroggs.-Rev. Mr. Hanking. Mr. Beard-Solicitor, Grays Inn.- Mrs. Davis, and Miss Merryweather.-Mr. P. could not but feel that the List was not only without Distinction, but less numerous than he had hoped. It was but July however, and August and September were the Months；-And besides, the promised large Families from Surry and Camberwell, were an ever-ready consolation.-Mrs. Whitby came forward without delay from her Literary recess, delighted to see Mr. Parker again, whose manners recommended him to every body, and they were fully occupied in their various Civilities and Communications, while Charlotte having added her name to the List as the first offering to the success of the Season, was busy in some immediate purchases for the further good of Every body, as soon as Miss Whitby could be hurried down from her Toilette, with all her glossy Curls and smart Trinkets to wait on her.
The Library of course, afforded every thing； all the useless things in the World that could not be done without, and among so many pretty Temptations, and with so much good will for Mr. P. to encourage Expenditure, Charlotte began to feel that she must check herself-or rather she reflected that at two and Twenty there could be no excuse for her doing otherwise-and that it would not do for her to be spending all her Money the very first Evening. She took up a Book； it happened to be a volume of Camilla. She had not Camilla's Youth, and had no intention of having her Distress,-so, she turned from the Drawers of rings and Broches repressed farther solicitation and paid for what she bought.-For her particular gratification, they were then to take a Turn on the Cliff-but as they quitted the Library they were met by two Ladies whose arrival made an alteration necessary, Lady Denham and Miss Brereton.-They had been to Trafalgar House, and been directed thence to the Library, and though Lady D. was a great deal too active to regard the walk of a mile as any thing requiring rest, and talked of going home again directly, the Parkers knew that to be pressed into their House, and obliged to take her Tea with them, would suit her best,-and therefore the stroll on the Cliff gave way to an immediate return home.-'No, no,' said her Ladyship-'I will not have you hurry your Tea on my account.-I know you like your Tea late.-My early hours are not to put my Neighbours to inconvenience. No, no, Miss Clara and I will get back to our own Tea. We came out with no other Thought.-We wanted just to see you and make sure of your being really come, but we get back to our own Tea.'-She went on however towards Trafalgar House and took possession of the Drawing room very quietly-without seeming to hear a word of Mrs. P.'s orders to the Servant as they entered, to bring Tea directly. Charlotte was fully consoled for the loss of her walk, by finding herself in company with those, whom the conversation of the morning had given her a great curiosity to see. She observed them well.-Lady D. was of middle height, stout, upright and alert in her motions, with a shrewd eye, and self-satisfied air-but not an unagreable Countenance-and tho' her manner was rather downright and abrupt as of a person who valued herself on being free-spoken, there was a good humour and cordiality about her-a civility and readiness to be acquainted with Charlotte herself, and a heartiness of welcome towards her old friends, which was inspiring the Good will, she seemed to feel. And as for Miss Brereton, her appearance so completely justified Mr. P.'s praise that Charlotte thought she had never beheld a more lovely, or more Interesting young Woman.-Elegantly tall, regularly handsome, with great delicacy of complexion and soft Blue eyes, a sweetly modest and yet naturally graceful Address, Charlotte could see in her only the most perfect representation of whatever Heroine might be most beautiful and bewitching, in all the numerous volumes they had left behind them on Mrs. Whitby's shelves.
Perhaps it might be partly oweing to her having just issued from a Circulating Library-but she could not separate the idea of a complete Heroine from Clara Brereton. Her situation with Lady Denham so very much in favour of it！-She seemed placed with her on purpose to be ill-used. Such Poverty and Dependance joined to such Beauty and Merit, seemed to leave no choice in the business.-These feelings were not the result of any spirit of Romance in Charlotte herself. No, she was a very sober-minded young Lady, sufficiently well-read in Novels to supply her Imagination with amusement, but not at all unreasonably influenced by them； and while she pleased herself the first five minutes with fancying the Persecutions which ought to be the Lot of the interesting Clara, especially in the form of the most barbarous conduct on Lady Denham's side, she found no reluctance to admit from subsequent observation, that they appeared to be on very comfortable Terms.-She could see nothing worse in Lady Denham, than the sort of oldfashioned formality of always calling her Miss Clara-nor anything objectionable in the degree of observance and attention which Clara paid.-On one side it seemed protecting kindness, on the other grateful and affectionate respect.-The Conversation turned entirely upon Sanditon, its present number of Visitants and the Chances of a good Season. It was evident that Lady D. had more anxiety, more fears of loss, than her Coadjutor. She wanted to have the Place fill faster, and seemed to have many harassing apprehensions of the Lodgings being in some instances underlet.-Miss Diana Parker's two large Families were not forgotten. 'Very good, very good,' said her Ladyship.-'A West Indy Family and a school. That sounds well.
